SF Jewish Film Festival: Estate

Estranged son Assaf (Adam Gabay) returns home for his father Shlomo’s shiva. It’s been so long since his uncles, Eli and Yakov,have seen him that they wonder if he indeed is their nephew. Eilon Bar Tal’s taut direction explores the moody dynamics of this close-knit family, whose roles are changing since the death of Shlomo. To complicate matters, Lani, Shlomo’s caregiver, is experiencing a psychological adjustment after the death of her patient and losing her job. There’s also Miriam (Elisheva Weil), a young woman sleeping in the garden shed, and when Assaf invites her to stay in the house out of kindness or love, it infuriates his uncle Yakov.

Estate brims with tension, desire and the driving force of the family’s search for Shlomo’s will,which will determine who inherits the house. Eilon Bar Tal’s excellent script frequently shifts our allegiances, making us conscious of our investment in the characters and figuring out who we should be rooting for. Superlative acting contributes to this riveting portrait of a family under pressure. —Nancy Fishman